The open field was quiet, broken only by the soft whisper of grass bending under moving feet as the wind passed through it in gentle waves.
Kevin rolled his shoulders once, loosening them, and lifted the wooden sword into a relaxed guard. Across from him, Natalie raised her shield, stance firm and balanced, her weight centered evenly on both feet. No signals were needed, no countdown or warning. They moved at the sa ti, instincts guiding them.
Kevin stepped in first, his front foot sliding forward with control, the sword angling toward her shoulder in a clean, straightforward line. Natalie didn’t rush or flinch. She shifted back half a step and turned her shield just enough to et the strike. **Thock.** Wood t reinforced leather, the impact clean, contained, and deliberate rather than forceful.
"Good angle," Kevin said as he pulled back smoothly, already circling to his right without breaking rhythm.
Natalie followed his movent, keeping him in front of her at all tis. When Kevin cut low, testing her balance, she retreated again, shield dipping to cover her leg without exposing her upper body. The sword skimd harmlessly across its edge. She used the contact wisely, pushing forward with her shield and forcing Kevin to give ground.
Kevin laughed softly as he stepped back, boots pressing into the grass. "Nice push. You didn’t overcommit."
They reset their distance without stopping, neither lowering their guard nor breaking focus.
Kevin advanced again, this ti quicker and sharper. A short feint to the left drew her attention, followed by a sudden snap toward her ribs. Natalie reacted instantly, bringing the shield across her body and twisting her torso with it. The strike slid off at an angle. Before Kevin could follow up, she stepped forward, shield pressing into his chest space and disrupting his balance.
Kevin yielded, boots digging into the dirt as he retreated two asured steps. "That timing’s getting sharp," he said, approving rather than defensive.
Natalie didn’t answer. She pressed just enough to test him, then pulled back instead of chasing the opening. Kevin used the space she gave him to regain ground, their roles reversing once again without either of them forcing the exchange.
They moved like that for a while—advance, retreat, then switch—each reading the other, neither trying to overpower the mont.
Kevin drove her back with a steady rhythm, testing her guard with light taps and asured cuts rather than heavy swings. Natalie absorbed each one, adjusting her stance with care, sotis stepping back, sotis standing firm and letting the shield do the work. When Kevin paused for a brief breath, she took the front foot, forcing him to shift his weight and respond.
A quick exchange followed. Kevin’s sword moved high, drawing her guard upward, then snapped low. Natalie blocked both attacks, the second with a sharp tilt of her shield that knocked the blade aside cleanly. She stepped in, shield nearly touching his arm, close enough to deny him space.
"Excellent control," Kevin said as he backed off again. "You’re reading faster."
They broke apart naturally, neither winded nor marked, neither showing signs of strain.
The field returned to a gentle quiet, grass swaying as they circled once more—balanced, focused, and evenly matched, their movents calm and disciplined.
Kevin shifted his grip and stepped in again, this ti without giving Natalie the chance to settle or reset her breathing.
He closed the distance fast, his front foot cutting into her space with purpose. Natalie raised her shield imdiately, bracing for impact—but Kevin didn’t strike. He stopped just short, then slid to the side in the sa motion, forcing her to turn with him and adjust her footing.
"Careful," he said calmly. "You leaned."
Before she could fully reset her stance, Kevin tapped the shield’s edge and snapped the wooden sword across its rim. The contact was light and controlled, but it knocked the shield slightly off-line. Natalie reacted well, pulling it back into position, yet that brief fraction of delay was enough.
Kevin stepped through.
The flat of the wooden blade rested against her shoulder, firm but restrained, a clear and undeniable finish.
"Point," he said, already withdrawing the sword and stepping away.
Natalie froze for a heartbeat, then let out a slow breath and lowered her shield. She straightened and gave him a small nod, accepting the outco without protest or complaint.
"That was clean," Kevin added. "You held your ground well. Just don’t chase the block next ti."
They stepped apart, the tension easing naturally as the spar ca to an end.
....
"Thanks," Natalie said as she took the dry towel from him and wiped her forehead, her breathing steadying.
Kevin nodded in response and sat beside her on the bench. The wooden sword rested by his side as he leaned back slightly and stared at the moon hanging quietly above them.
After a brief pause, Kevin asked, "Hey... you don’t hate it, right? When I give remarks mid-battle?"
Natalie paused while drinking water and humd in question, inviting him to continue.
Kevin, a bit hesitant, spoke again. "I an, when I correct your posture or complint your movents, it might co off like I’m putting myself above you. But that’s not what I an, Natalie—"
"What nonsense are you thinking, Kev?" Natalie cut in, unable to listen to him ramble any longer. "When did things beco this formal between us that you’d hesitate doing sothing so normal?"
Kevin exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping. "I’ve been making so many mistakes lately that I’ve grown cautious about every action."
Natalie sighed and eased back on the bench. "Is this related to Emma?"
Kevin shook his head. "Not exactly. But she’s one of the reasons I realized my mistake."
Natalie humd softly. "Tell what happened. Did she say sothing?"
Kevin sighed. "No. Not directly. It was William, actually. He made realize things I used to think were normal."
Natalie nodded. "He did the sa for recently."
They fell silent, both reflecting on the sa thought from different angles.
After a mont, Kevin asked, "What’s wrong with Lizel these days? She’s been unusually listless."
Natalie chuckled. "Just a guess, but I think that’s related to William too."
Kevin’s brows lifted slightly. "I hope she recovers soon. I have a feeling sothing big is approaching."
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